Digital Music News (digitalmusicnews.com)

Napster Layoffs Begin, 10 Percent Reduction Reported

January 25, 2006

Napster has just completed a round of layoffs, according to sources within the organization. The sources pointed to a 10 percent workforce reduction, focused within the programming and marketing divisions. Emp... Read More...

Napster Hitting Bottom? Rumors Circulate, Earnings Call Coming

Paul Resnikoff

January 17, 2006

Ahead of a Napster earnings call in early February, reports of a dire company situation have emerged. According to sources inside the organization, a substantial round of layoffs is expected within weeks. In c... Read More...

XM Crosses 6 Million Subscribers, Sirius Passes 3.3

Paul Resnikoff

January 6, 2006

As expected, XM Satellite Radio crossed the 6 million subscriber mark in 2005, a bump of 2.7 million new subscribers during the year. The leading satellite provider now has considerable momentum moving into 2006, and the company projected a total of 9 milli... Read More...

Resnikoff’s Parting Shot: Hollywood Casts a Good Cop

Paul Resnikoff

January 4, 2006

The final numbers are still being tallied, but the record industry has suffered in 2005. Recent figures from Nielsen Soundscan pointed to a seven-percent drop, though sales from the final week have not been fa... Read More...

Drama Brews Between EMI, Apple Over iPod Compatibility

Paul Resnikoff

November 21, 2005

EMI has largely been spared heavy scrutiny during the Sony rootkit imbroglio. But recently, the label has found itself in the middle of some new drama. The issue began when EMI chief Alain Levy predicted that ... Read More...

Napster Research Study Makes Case for Subscriptions

Paul Resnikoff

November 16, 2005

Are CD-based collections causing problems for the average consumer? A new UK-based research report commissioned by Napster reveals that music fans have had an estimated two billion CDs lost or stolen. Additionally, the results claim that UK music fans don’t l... Read More...

Labels Push Curbs on Satellite, HD Radio on Capitol Hill

Paul Resnikoff

November 9, 2005

Satellite Radio is quickly growing up, and that could be a problem for major labels. While satellite-based streams of music are a core service that both XM and Sirius offer, a new crop of devices are allowin... Read More...

Gwen Stefani Track Crosses One Million Downloads

Paul Resnikoff

October 4, 2005

Digital music has achieved its first million-selling single track — Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”. Taken from her debut album, titled Love. Angel. Music. Baby., the track has achieved over one million downlo... Read More...

Nintendo Mulls MP3 Player Entrance

Paul Resnikoff

September 1, 2005

Nintendo could soon make an unusual entrance into the portable MP3 category. The company is planning to deliver its Game Boy Micro this fall in both the US and Europe, which will now reportedly be available with an MP3 player attachment. That will allow gam... Read More...

Single Soccer Mom Prepares RIAA Challenge

Paul Resnikoff

August 15, 2005

While most recipients of RIAA lawsuits quickly settle out of court, a big challenge could come from an unlikely source. Patricia Santangelo, a single soccer mom from Wappingers Falls, NY, has decided to go to ... Read More...

RIAA Chief Points to Big CD Burning and Ripping Issue

Paul Resnikoff

August 15, 2005

While piracy threats continue to come from various technologies, RIAA chief executive Mitch Bainwol recently highlighted the importance of unauthorized CD burning and ripping. At the recent NARM convention i... Read More...

Apple Raises iTunes Wholesale Payout for Independents

Paul Resnikoff

July 26, 2005

Apple recently raised its wholesale payout on iTunes Music Store downloads to seventy cents per song, offering parity between independent and major labels. The increase first came to light in a letter sent by Derek Sivers, CEO of independent retailer CD Baby.... Read More...